Natural Remedies for Allergies
Allergies result from a heightened sensitivity to a foreign substance (called an allergen) that causes the body’s immune system to overreact when defending itself.
How to differentiate Allergies from cold and flu
Allergy
- Onset: response to allergen
- Duration: more than a week
- Season: Spring/Summer/Fall
- Fever: none
- Fatigue/weakness: mild; varies
- Extreme exhaustion: rare
- General aches, pains: varies
- Headache: usual
- Sneezing: usual
- Sore throat: sometimes
- Stuffy nose: common
- Nasal discharge: clear
- Chest discomfort: sometimes
- Cough: none; dry
- Vomit/diarrhea: rare; varies
Cold:
- Onset: slow
- Duration: 1 week
- Season: Fall/winter
- Fever: rare; less than 100 degrees
- Fatigue/weakness: quiet mild
- Extreme exhaustion: never
- General aches/pains: slight
- Headache: rare
- Sneezing: usual
- Sore throat: common
- Stuffy nose: common
- Nasal discharge: yellow/greenish
- Chest discomfort: mild to moderate
- Cough: yes
- Vomit and diarrhea: rare
Flu
- Onset: fast
- Duration: 1-3 weeks
- Season: fall/winter
- Fever: 102-104, lasts 3-4 days
- Fatigue/weakness: may last 2-3 days
- Extreme exhaustion: early and prominent
- General aches/pains: usual; often severe
- Headache: prominent
- Sneezing: sometimes
- Sore throat: sometimes
- Stuffy nose: sometimes
- Nasal discharge: varies
- Chest discomfort: common, can be secere
- Cough: yes, dry hacking
- Vomit and diarrhea: common
Our immune system has two intrinsic defense systems: Innate and Adoptive. Innate system responds quickly and consists of first line of defense (skin and mucosae percent entry of microorganisms) and second line of defense (antimicrobial proteins, phagocytes, and other cells that inhibit spread of invaders throughout the body; inflammation is its hallmark and most important mechanism).
Elderberries are anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and decongestant. They contain significant amounts of flavonoids Rutin, Quercetin, Isoquercetin, all of which are mast cell stabilizers that reduce allergic reactions.
Therapeutic benefits of essential oils for allergies:
- Relieve symptoms
- Anti-inflammatory
- Support and modulate immunity
- Ease anxiety/stress
- Reduce potential allergens in the environment (diffusion, room sprays, linen sprays, etc)
Best applications for seasonal allergies
- Salt Scrubs
- Steam inhalation
- Diffusion
- Direct palm inhalation
- Linen/room apray
- When dryness is an issue - apply essential oil diluted 1:1 with carrier oil inside the nose
Bay Laurel essential oil
Bay Laurel is one the best respiratory, immune and lymphatic essential oils. It is rich in 1,8 cineole, supported by a-terpinyl acetate and monoterpenes.
How to use: 3-10 drops applied topically over lymph nodes effectively supports the lymphatic system in its task of eliminating metabolic waste. Bay Laurel is an expectorant, counteracts mucous build-up symptoms and has a very broad antimicrobial spectrum. I personally fall in love more and more with this oil!
Applications: salt scrub, steam inhalation, diffusion.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon essential oil supports the immune system and therapeutic activity of other essential oils listed in this blog. Lemon essential oil is indicated for lymphatic congestion and it is a great air purifier. Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint essential oils make a perfect synergy blend to put under the tongue.
Eucalyptus Globulus and Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil
Eucalyptus helps the body to remove excess mucus and relieve cough. It also promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs, dissolve thick mucous and it’s immune modulatory.
Eucalyptus essential oil is indicated for bronchitis, flu, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections, colds, ear infections, mucous cough, lowered immunity. Best applications are diffusion, steam inhalation, personal inhaler, salt scrub.
German Chamomile Essential Oil
German Chamomile Essential Oil is rich in oxides (a-bisabolol oxide A and B) and the seqiiterpene alcohol, -(-)-a-bisabolol. It is anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, helps to relieve itching, antispasmodic, calming to the nerves.
Applications: cream or lotion for itchy skin, nasal gel or oil, inhalation.
Sample formulation: Combine 5 drops German Chamomile, 10 drops Eucalyptus Radiata, 50 drops Sesame/Jojoba Oil in a small glass bottle. Pour a small amount into palm and then with finger tips of other hand scoop small amount up and gently massage under and around the nose. Holding palms close to a be nose take a deep inhalation. Massage any extra oil into neck (front and back) and shoulders.
Blue Tansy is of the same botanical family and could be used instead of German Chamomile.
Scots Pine
Scots Pine Essential Oil is rich in monoterpenes (a-Pinene and B-Pinene) supported by sesquiterpenes and esters. It is decongestant, expectorant, neurotonic and restorative. Core indications for Scots Pine are respiratory infections, thins bronchial secretions, expands breathing, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, moist coughs, sinusitis, sore throat, allergies.
Applications: diffusion, personal inhaler, steam inhalation.
Written by Lena Isayev, C.A., B.A.